This page is about Algotronix between its founding in 1989 by Irene Buchanan, John Gray and Tom Kean and its acquisition by Xilinx in 1993. The history of the new Algotronix which spun out of Xilinx in 1998 is still being written!
This photo-album is based around the limited number of pictures available, additional contributions from anyone who interacted with Algotronix are very welcome. If you are a former customer of Algotronix and would like a link to your web page from this one please ask!
Research work begins on the CAL architecture. This work is done by Tom Kean and supervised by Dr. John Gray and Dr. David Rees. Initial explorations are based on a 6um NMOS process.
The first CAL architecture device is manufactured in 4um double metal CMOS on a multi-project chip. This CLA device is programmed by the final metal layer - it implements a digital stopwatch. The RAM programmed CAL technology was seen as a prototyping technology which could be directly converted into this more efficient mask programmed technology.
The CAL256 chip, the first SRAM programmed member of the CAL family, with 256 programmable cells, manufactured by ES2 in 2um double metal CMOS. Unlike later CAL chips this device had a primitive serial programming interface (much like contemporary commercial FPGA's).
Algotronix is formed and work starts on the CAL1024 chip, 1024 programmable cells in 1.5um double metal CMOS manufactured by ES2. This is the first FPGA to offer random access to its control memory and to provide signal sharing on I/O's to facilitate building arrays of devices. The project is funded by the Scottish Development Agency (now Scottish Enterprise).
The CHS2x4 custom computer, an ISA card containing up to 8 user configurable CAL1024 arrays is shipped to UK Universities participating in the Scottish Enterprise project.
Algotronix marketing brochure for the CHS2X4 is released.
Byte Magazine publishes a feature on the CHS2x4.
Algotronix CHS2x4 custom computer is a finalist in EDN Magazine's innovation of the year award.
Algotronix' CHS2x4 custom computer appears on the cover of Scotish Enterprise's directory of electronics companies in Scotland.
Algotronix receives a SMART award from the UK government to fund development of interactive debugging tools which take advantage of the unique memory mapped interface on the CAL1024 chip.
Algotronix CAL1024 chips are used as a computational comprocessor in the Chameleon workstation designed at by Cuno Pfister and Beat Heeb at ETH Zuerich. This is the first system to closely couple FPGA's to a general purpose computer.
The architecture for a next generation CAL chip is defined and the technology is marketed to established semiconductor companies. The technology is acquired by Xilinx Inc. and forms the basis of the XC6200 family of FPGA's. Algotronix is shut down and the staff join Xilinx.
Algotronix is reformed as a consulting company.